Lost bezier anchor point handle when continuing path

Rather than selecting the Direct Selection tool to adjust a previous point, press the cmd/ctrl key to temporarily invoke the Direct Selection tool. When the adjustment is done, release the key, and continue drawing as if the process had not been interrupted.

Peter

When you let go of a drawing AS you draw it (by switching tools), Illustrator thinks you're finished - even if you go back and edit your last handle. You CAN reconnect to the previous point. Hover over it with the pen, then watch for the tiny slash icon on the pen and draw from there - make sure you're pulling out the handle from exactly where that little slash appeared. That tells Illustrator to continue drawing from that point. Hope that helps (PS, you actually CAN see that little slash in your demo - when you hover over your FIRST point at the end of the demo - that slash is asking if you want to draw from there.

Suggestion that you always try to edit after the drawing is completed, if you can. I tell my student's it's "Illustrator Zen" to let that happen, but then you don't encounter this problem.